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I P. LYKENS. GOAL BREAKING APPARATUS.

775271 6% J ear r lac/u v J UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC P. LYKENS, OF POTTSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDWILLIAM BIOKEL, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINERY FOR BREAKING COAL.-

Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,191, dated February 14, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC P. LYKENS, of Pottsville, Schuylkill county,Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Breaking Coal; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of coal breakers in which spikedplates raised by suitable gearing and allowed to fall by their ownweight, are used, in connection with stationary spikes, and myimprovements consist, firstly, in reciprocating spiked plate andstationary spiked bars combined with chutes having movable doors, thewhole be ing arranged and operating substantially as described hereafterso that the proper amount of coal may be submitted to the combinedaction of the upper and lower spikes; secondly, in so constructing andarranging both the upper and lower spikes and the bars to which they areattached that both can be readily adjusted to break coal of differentsizes; thirdly, in certain springs described hereafter and so situatedin respect to the upper and lower spikes and their bars as to preventthe latter from coming too close together and so as to ease the violenceof any shock which the absence of the proper amount of coal on the lowerspikes might cause.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of thisspecificationFigure 1, is a sectional elevation of my improved coalbreaker. Fig. 2, a transverse sectional elevation on the line 1 2,Fig. 1. Fig. 3, a sectional plan on the line 3, 1, Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The framework of the machine consists of the four diagonal beams A,secured at the bottom to the frame B and connected together at the topby beams O O which are secured to beams D D, to which are framed thebeams E, E. This framework is boarded at the sides and ends so as toform alarge box vertical on the opposite ends as seen in Fig. 1, andinclined outward toward the top on the opposite sides, as seen in Fig.2.

In suitable boxes on the beams O C and D D, turns a shaft F, to whichare secured the segmental cog wheels G G, the teeth of each of thelatter gearing into the teeth of a vertical rod H. To the end of eachrod is secured a plate I, and to the under side of the latter areconnected a series of bars J, furnished with spikes e e. The spikes arebolted to the bars independently of each other, the upper ends of thespikes passing through oblong slots in the bars, and being furnishedwith nuts on loosening which the spikes may be adjusted nearer to orfarther from each other at pleasure. The bars are also so secured to theplate I that they may be moved toward and from each other. Above thisplate are inclined shields Z) Z) for a purpose described hereafter. Onthe opposite sides of the plate are slides 0 0 adapted to girders Kwhich form a part of the general framework of the machine. Each rod H isalso guided by a bracket h secured to the beam C so that the teeth ofthe bar may gear into those of the wheel G as the latter revolves. Abeam L is secured to the girders K and a similar beam to the oppositegirders K and on these beams are secured springs M so situated that whenthe bars H with their spiked plates I are down, each plate shall rest ontwo of the springs.

To the base A are secured a series of bars N, each bar being furnishedwith a number of spikes n n the bars and spikes being so constructedthat the position of the latter on the former may be altered at pleasureand the bars themselves being so secured to the base that they can beadjusted on the same.

On each end of the frame is an opening m (Fig. 1) communicating with achute Q down which the lumps of coal to be broken pass into the box. Toeach chute is hinged a door q connected by a rod S to one arm of thebell crank lever t which is hung to the frame and the short arm of whichis operated by a slidin rod u the latter being actuated by a cam I oneof which is secured to each end of the shaft F, so that as the lattermakes one entire revolution,both doors 9 will be raised and loweredonce.

The size of the pieces into which the coal has to be broken being firstdetermined upon, the spikes upon the plate I as well as those upon thebase B are adjusted by sliding the spikes themselves as well as the barsto such a position that the pieces of coal broken by the combined actionof the upper and lower spikes will be of the desired size, theadjustment being such that the upper spikes shall coincide with thespace between the lower spikes and vice-Versa. The teeth of the two cogwheels G G are cut away at such points that as they revolve, one of thebars H with its spiked plate shall be elevated while the other bar withits spiked plate is at its lowest position. The arms P P are so formedand their appliances for operating the doors g of the chutes soregulated, that when one of the spiked plates I is down the door 9 ofthe adjacent chute will be raised, and when the spiked plate is elevatedthe door will be lowered.

As seen in Fig. 1, the lumps of coal are at liberty to roll down thechute Q, on one side of the machine the door of that chute being loweredwhile the progress of the coal on the opposite chute has been arrestedby the elevated door, so that by the time the elevated spiked plate I isabout ready to drop there will be a mass of coal on the lower spikesready to be submitted to the combined action of these spikes and thedescending spikes, in the meantime the adjacent spiked plate isgradually raised and when it is clear of the opening as the door of theadjacent chute is lowered and the lumps of coal admitted to the boXdirectly under the spiked plate, so that the breaking of the lumps ofcoal is efi'ected first by one and then by the other set of fallingspikes,

the broken pieces falling between the bars N N into any suitablereceptacle or chute.

The springs M prevent the spiked plates from falling too low, and serveto ease the violence of any shock which the absence of the proper amountof coal on the lower spikes might cause.

The accumulation of coal on the top of the spiked plates is prevented bythe inclined shield 19 down which such lumps as may escape from thepartially obstructed chutes will roll down onto the lower spikes.

I wish it to be understood that I do not claim broadly the breaking ofcoal by means of spiked plates falling by their own Weight, nor the useof a spiked grating. But

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. Thereciprocating spiked plates I and the spiked bars N, in combination withthe chutes Q, and their movable doors 9 the whole being arranged andoperating sub stantially as herein set forth.

2. Attachin both the upper and lower spikes independently of each otherto the bars in such a manner that the position of the said spikes may bealtered at pleasure, the bars themselves being likewise so secured as toadmit of ready adjustment in the manner and for the purpose specified.

3. I claim the springs M arranged in respect to the spiked plates I andthe spiked bars N, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC P. LYKENS.

IVitnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, CHARLES D. FREEMAN.

